... and as far as I understand, they're offering a 1/72 range of die cast tanks as well now...

I hope that the battle sets (sorry for not providing the translation, but my russian is very basic) will contain some new 1/72 AoT figures.Not long ago, we were discussing the possibility of further expansions of the AoT range here at Bennos:

Maybe someone knows more about this?Will we get one or more of the "missing" AoT sets finally?6147 - Soviet 120mm mortar with crew6174 - British Staff6182 - German anti-tank team6194 - German snipers6189 - RAF ground personnel6217 - British 25-pound howitzer with crew

Erich von Manstein wrote:Maybe someone knows more about this?Will we get one or more of the "missing" AoT sets finally?6147 - Soviet 120mm mortar with crew6174 - British Staff6182 - German anti-tank team6194 - German snipers6189 - RAF ground personnel6217 - British 25-pound howitzer with crew

German anti-tank team and German snipers are announced. But they have new catalogue indexes: 6216 and 6217. Seems these sets willbe made only to correct disbalance in game: soviet side already has snipers and AT-team. That's why 120mm mortar is not awaited. And no britains: Zvezda's manager said long ago that they will not develop british line. As well as whole "Hot War" - neither Soviet nor American figures.

Three new battle sets are 3 parts of "Berlin operation":6235 - "Crossing of Oder"6236 - "Zeelov hills"6237 - "Assault of Berlin"It will be small battlesets. Idea is: to force wargamers buy 3 boxes (for 3 prices) if they want to receive one full game.

MicroWorld wrote:German anti-tank team and German snipers are announced. But they have new catalogue indexes: 6216 and 6217. Seems these sets willbe made only to correct disbalance in game: soviet side already has snipers and AT-team. That's why 120mm mortar is not awaited. And no britains: Zvezda's manager said long ago that they will not develop british line. As well as whole "Hot War" - neither Soviet nor American figures.

Thanks for clarifying.Was hoping one of our russian speaking friends would help with this.

Good to hear that the 2 AoT sets are still announced at least. Couldn't find them in 2018 catalogue though?

Really a shame that the management rejects any further expansion of their great 1/72 range.However, most of their current 1/72 snap-fit kits are a pleasant change from the usual quick-build chunks.

MicroWorld wrote:Three new battle sets are 3 parts of "Berlin operation":6235 - "Crossing of Oder"6236 - "Zeelov hills"6237 - "Assault of Berlin"It will be small battlesets. Idea is: to force wargamers buy 3 boxes (for 3 prices) if they want to receive one full game.

Sadly, Zvezda is by far not the only company "fleecing" its customers. Otherwise, they still offer the best sculpting/quality.

Impossible! They have some kind of irrational hatred to traditional ("large") sets of figures. On Zvezda'z forum we permanently ask them to revitalize this format. For example: to make modern russian soldiers (not exists in plastic). To be correct: "we askED them...". But in 2016 they cancelled even mini-sets (these two the last sets changing nothing) . So no hope...

A little more information. Boxart of "German anti-tank crew" was ready few years ago:

I don't know the rules of that tabletop game, but one thing I know for sure - at the late part of WW2 (which the campaigns and the tank models seem to represent, anti-tank-rifles had long be obsolete because they became insufficient against state-of-the-art tanks of that time.

Zed1 wrote: at the late part of WW2 (which the campaigns and the tank models seem to represent, anti-tank-rifles had long be obsolete because they became insufficient against state-of-the-art tanks of that time.

The AT-set aims at an early war scenario of course.AoT-series is depicting WWII in general, it isn't limited to a specicic phase.It contains many early war figures as well.

Soviet cavalry & frontier guards, early uniform figures in general (contrary to other late war sets), T-26, Panzer II, early Panzer III & IV, T-35, early T-34/76 ...

So does anyone have inside info on when Zvezda will release the 1/72 Panzer IV kit??? The new Dragon one is awful....Trumpeter promised one years ago but nothing...and the Revell one, while good, is rather dated. So I am hoping Zvezda will do a good one...and one with 'open hatches!' for a change! Pretty please...

As for Zvezda's plastic offerings, like so many, I loved their big sets and bought them all. The sculpting was really good and the sets were very well made. Sure, they weren't always the same scale (those Prussian Grenadiers are big but they do look nice!) and there were some historical dress issues, but they beat the heck out of their competitors for quality. Zvezda's small sets have been good but not nearly as good as the big sets. Alas, nothing stays the same....

On the Modern Russian Army, I don't get why Zvezda hasn't done a box of these. Aside from told ESCI figs (suitable for Afghanistan), the only other modern Russians are the Orions ones for Chechyna, and they are nice.

Cannot name the precise release date, but I'm also looking forward to Zvezdas 1/72 Panzer IV and T-35.As already mentioned, this snap-fit kits are quite good and easily surpass the quick-build chunks from Hät or Armourfast by far.

Considering how they utilized their already released vehicle chassis so far, its safe to say that there will be numerous other Panzer IV variants from MC in the not too distant future.Will be interisting to compare both manufacturers performances.

The MC one was announced back in 2016 and nothing since....may never come out...and I have asked MC about this kit and of course no response. In any event, I doubt the MC one would be as good as Zvezda, as they tend to focus more on details and accuracy then MC does. Still, the more the merrier!

Arkoudaki wrote:On the Modern Russian Army, I don't get why Zvezda hasn't done a box of these. Aside from told ESCI figs (suitable for Afghanistan), the only other modern Russians are the Orions ones for Chechyna, and they are nice.

I do not even dream about large set of modern russian soldiers. A small explanation: 1/72 is not a priority for Zvezd since Krivenko died. Most efforts are targeted to 1/35: new models are appearing almost every month (Banater, you are right: Russia is in war, so "everything for front, everything for victrory!" ) . That's why Zvezda has no possibility (and a wish) to make many new 1/72 figures. I asked them simply to downscale existing 1:35 set of the "polite people" to 1/72. It's very easy task - 3D-model needs only a minor adaptation. Zvezda permanently doing it with models of tank: starting from "Tiger" and "Panther" ALL new 1/72 tanks are made from 1:35 ones. And set of 4 soldiers ("with a cat" ) - it's just a "mini-" format. But they don't want: "we have no plans in 1/72 figures" - was an answer. In 2018 catalogue are two sets of modern russian tank crews - 1/35, of course. Also a good objects for downscaling, but...

Indeed, a further worrying and disputable decision from Zvezda's decision-makers.

An utterly strange development, as Dali correctly put it already. For 10 fruitful years Zvezda were the best 1/72-figures manufacturer by far. Their regular (big box) sets from that period must have sold in numbers!?Although many enthusiasts disagreed with the managments decision to switch to the smaller AoT sets, it still kept them into 1/72 at least. Now this product range seems to dry up as well... .

Have to admit that I nurtured the hope that they'll reconsider & come back to 1/72 big style. Their range of highly detailed 1/72 quick-build tanks seems to be appreciated by modellers & wargamers at the same time?